Let me get this straight. Coun. Mathieu Fleury wants the Salvation Army to do what the Ottawa Police Service is trained, financed and equipped to do.

The Salvation Army is performing a service that many members of society (parents, health boards, politicians) won’t or can’t do. Dehumanizing the homeless as just smokers, drinkers and drug-takers, is no longer acceptable. We should recognize that many are burdened by illness (mental, which includes addictions) and must be helped, rather than hindered by drug dealers and disinterested members of society. This is not the Salvation Army’s responsibility, it is ours, collectively.

Michael Nihmey, Ottawa

The real issue is erosion of city services

I find it incredible that Coun. Mathieu Fleury shifts responsibility for the recent stabbing of Kayla Sullivan away from the very entity he represents to his constituents, the city of Ottawa and its police services. The real issue is the erosion in city services as a whole.

Since we moved here in the late 1980s, we have repeatedly observed local government using annual budgets to create an appearance of fiscal responsibility, by limiting needed tax increases to cover basic services such as policing, snow removal, street repairs and maintenance.

The pat response is to say how upper levels of government have cut transfers, making it harder to do things properly. City council, however, is more interested in keeping taxes low in order to be re-elected. The very street I live on is a school bus route. Every winter, snowplows come, push the snow aside, and are never seen again. Yearly I call our city councillor asking for this strategic street to be cleared. The issue is child safety. Where are our elected officials?

It is up to the city to police the streets. I think Mr. Fleury knows that quite well. Where we live in Blackburn Hamlet, the sight of a police cruiser on a consistent basis is rare. Take note, Coun. Jody Mitic. Just the presence of police can be a deterrent.

We cannot expect the police to be everywhere. We cannot expect every street to be completely cleared of all snow all the time. But we should expect better, broader and more visible services.

Ron Grossman, Blackburn

Prime minister, we want electoral reform

Re: Is Trudeau trying to pull a fast one on reform? Oct. 21.

Let me be very clear and concise. We want the electoral system reformed. The prime minister’s weak comments aside, we have not changed our minds.

I, for one, am taking a lesson from the Clinton-Trump debacle. A disillusioned populace is capable of very self-destructive behaviour. For God’s sake, be the leader we need you to be!

Dianne Bauer, Arnprior

Trudeau reverts to same old cynicism

It would appear that Mr. Trudeau is using the wisdom of his interpretation of Canadians’ views on electoral reform to project what he and the Liberal Party really want to do: squash electoral reform.

Or, this may be a negotiating tactic to impose a preferential ballot system. Had this system been applied to last year’s election results, the Liberals would have a greater majority government.

We are not a progressive country when we employ archaic and gerrymandered electoral systems to get majoritarian governments that are essentially based on a plurality of votes. This system is advantageous to the Liberals. But, it is not a fair and equitable system that reflects the legitimate views and choices of all Canadians.

Mr. Trudeau, you promised, or at least strongly hinted, that substantial electoral reform would be partisan-free. With a minority government, you would have enacted necessary reform. Now with a majority government, you are trying to wiggle out of this crucial reform – and evoking the bogeyman, Stephen Harper, to rationalize your decision.

I am a Liberal with well over 55 years of participation with the party, in good times and bad. I had naïvely thought you would be different. I still want to think you are.

Andrew E. Fenus, Ottawa

CNN shows clear bias against Trump

Re: Policy to the fore in final U.S. debate, Oct. 21.

“There are some pretty bad hombres, and we’re going to get them out,” said Donald Trump. That was enough to send CNN’s commentators over the edge and into the abyss of political correctness for a good 20 minutes Thursday evening. Last year, they spent about eight seconds on Clinton’s comment dealing with men off the reservation.

CNNers should be required to sign up for a course on ethics because, in my opinion, none of them has any.

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